Switch



* May 22,1934. H. ROSE Em 1 960,223.

swITcE Filed June 24. 1931 um mnHAuw- INVENTORS HARRY R055 7 2: a NLSORENG mall ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1934 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Application June 24, 1931, Serial No. 546,458

5 Claims.

It is an object of the invention .to provide a switch of simple compact construction which may be incorporated in an electric circuit of an electrical appliance to vary the current thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch having a fixed contact member and a movable contact member, the latter being housed in a casing and provided with a resistance coil which may be selectively cut into or out of the circuit to vary the current to an electrical appliance.

Other objects of the invention and the advantages thereof will in part be obvious and in part more fully brought out as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing there has been illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is illustrative, merely, and that the in-- vention is not confined to the details of construc tion therein shown but may be varied without sacrificing any of its advantages or departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a view in cross section of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the switch;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

.Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the inner side of the fixed member of the switch;

Figure 5 is a view in elevation 'of the inner side of the rotatable member of the switch;'and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing a switch comprising the invention incorporated in an electric circuit for an electric motor, or the like.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 indicates a casing which may be of cylindrical form and which is constructed of metal or other suitable material.

The casing is provided with a cover 11 made of fiber orother suitable insulating material. The cover 11 constitutes the fixed member of the switch and is provided with a pair of contacts designated by the reference numerals 12 and 13 which are in the form of binding posts to which are connected the terminal ends 14 and .15 of the power line for the apparatus to be controlled by the switch. The contact members 12 and 13 extend through the cover 11 to the inner surface thereof and are provided with globular elements 16 and 17. A third globular element 18 also projects from the inner surface of the cover member 11 but is not a contact inenrber of the switch. The third element 18 is symmetrically positioned, with respect to the globular elements 16 and 17 on the cover member 11, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The other member of the switch is a movable member 19 constructed of suitable insulating material and arranged within the casing 10 for rotation with respect'to the fixed member 11. The member 19 is provided with two sets of contacts 20, 20 and 21, 21. The contacts 20 are connected by a suitable bridging plate 22 of conducting material. The contacts 21 are connected by an electric resistance coil 23.

The member 19 is provided at its center with a polygonal aperture 24 through which passes the polygonal end 25 of a stem 26 which projects outwardly through the casing, extending through a threaded tubular housing 27. At its outer end the stem 26 is provided with a suitable operating button 28, rigidly connected to the stem26. This button may, if desired, be provided with suitable indicia for indicating the position of the switch, that is to say, whether it is open, or closed, or whether the resistance is included in the circuit. Thus, the indicia may consist of words high low and olT.

The threaded tubular housing 27 is provided with clamping nuts 29 and 30 by means of which the switch may be secured to any desired support 31. A split ring washer 32 may be interposed between the support and either one of the nuts 29 or 30.

Within the tubular housing 27, there is located a spring 33 which surrounds the stem 26 and bears, at one end, against the operating button 28 and at the other end, against an inner wall of the housing. The purpose of this spring is to provide and maintain clearance between the polygonal end 25 of the stem 26 and the inner surface of the fixed member 11.

Within the casing 10 and surrounding the stem 26 there is provided a washer 34 which forms a bearing for a spring 35, interposed between the washer and the movable member 19. The purpose of this spring is to constantly urge the members 19 and 11 into engagement. Thus, it will be seen that the member 19 contacts with the globular elements 16, 17 and 18 on the fixed member 11. If only the two globular elements 16 and 17 which are part of the electric contacts were employed, there would be a tendency for the movable member 19 to rock about the points. Therefore, we have provided the additional globular element 18 which gives a three point support for the movable member and assures that the various parts are maintained in uniformly spaced relation.

The member 19 is provided with a peripheral recess 36 and an inwardly projecting member 3'? formed on the wall of the casing 10 which projects into and cooperates with the recess 36 to limit rotation of the member 10.

The fixed member or cover 11 may be secured to the casing 10 in any convenient manner. As illustrated, the casing 10 is provided with tongues 38 which engage in recesses 39 formed in the periphery of the cover 11, the tongues 38 being bent over to maintain the casing and cover in rigid assembled relation.

It is believed that the foregoing description clearly sets forth the invention and that the application of the switch will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. In Figure 6 there is shown a wiring diagram in which the switch forming the subject matter of the present invention is shown in the circuit of an electric motor 43. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the switch is not to be limited to an electric motor, but may be used in any electric circuit in which it is desired to cut down the current supplied to the device. In this figure, the source of power is illustrated as being a battery 40 from which the one line ii leads to the contact 13 on the fixed member of the switch. The other line 42 goes from the battery to one terminal of the motor 43, the other terminal of the motor being connected by line 44 to the contact 12 of the fixed member of the switch. Figure 6 shows the circuit open. If new it is desired to close the circuit to run the motor at high speed, the member 19 is rotated in the direction of the arrow until the contacts 20, 20 engage the contacts 12 and 13 on the fixed member 11. If it is desired to run the motor at low speed, the member 19 is rotated in the direction of the arrow until the contacts 21, 21 engage the contacts 12 and 13 of the fixed member. The contacts 21 are connected by the resistance 23 as heretofore described and when this resistance is cut into the circuit, the motor 43 may be run at considerably reduced speed.

It will be realized that the invention has a wide range of utility and application in the practical electrical arts and may be employed wherever a two-speed switch is desired. The switch will also find wide use in providing a practical method of dimming electric lights, as for exam ple, automobile headlights; for varying the speed of motors; and other uses where it is desired to cut down the current supplied to an electrical unit.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A switch comprising a casing, a fixed member constituting a cover for said casing and provided with a set of contacts, a movable member within said casing provided with a plurality of sets of contacts, the contacts of one of said sets on said movable member being connected by a resistance, a stem operatively connected to said movable member and projecting through said casing for moving said movable member to bring a selected set of-contacts thereon into engagement with the contacts on said fixed member,

said stem having an enlarged head non-rotatably received in an aperture provided in said movable member, and means independent of said stem and easing constantly urging said movable and fixed members into engagement.

2. A switch comprising a casing, a fixed member forming a cover for said casing and provided with a set of contacts, a movable member within said casing provided with a plurality of sets of contacts, the contacts of one of said sets on said movable member being connected by a resistance, a stem operatively connected to said movable member and projecting through said easing for moving said movable member to bring a selected set of contacts thereon into engagement with the contacts on said fixed member, spring means surrounding said stem within said casing for constantly urging said members into engagement, and means constantly urging said stem outwardly to maintain clearance between the inner end thereof and said fixed member.

3. A s vitch comprising a casing, a fixed member forming a cover for said casing and provided with a set of contacts, a movable member within said casing provided with. a plurality of sets of contacts, a resistance connected between the contacts of one of said sets of contacts, a stem operative'ly connected to said movable member and projecting through said casing for moving said movable member to bring a selected set of contacts thereon into engagement with the contacts on said fixed member, spring means surrounding said stem within said casing for constantly urging said members into cngagement, and a spring surrounding said stem ex teriorly of said casing and urging said stem outwardly to maintain clearance between the inner end of said stem and said fixed member.

i. A switch including a casing, a fixed inember forming a cover for said casing. and provided with a set of contacts, a movable member within said casing and having a plurality of sets of contacts, a resistance member carried by said movable member, and having the ends thereof connected to the contacts of one of said sets on said movable member, means forming an electrical connection between the contacts of another of said sets on said movable member, an operating stem for actuating said movable member to alternately bring the sets of contacts on said movable member into contact with the set on said fixed member, and means indepcndent of said stem for constantly urging said members into engagement.

5. A switch including a casing, a fixed member forming a cover for said casing, and provided with a set of contacts, a movable member within said casing provided with a set of contacts, a resistance member mounted on said movable member, and having the ends thereof connected with the contacts on said movable member, actuating means for moving said inevable member to alternately engage and discngzwe the contacts, on said fixed member. and means independent of said actuating means for constantly urging said members into engagement.

HARRY ROSE. EDGAR M. scanner. 

